Block quotes, also called extracts, set-off quotations, long quotations, or display quotations refer to direct quotations that are set off from the main text because they're too long to be placed in quotation marks inside the text. They literally look like blocks. The paragraph begins on a new line and is indented from the left margin.

In contrast to pull quotes, though, they contain unique content (a quote from an external source) that isn't repeated in the article and highlight the authorship.

Block quotations can usually be distinguished from the surrounding text by using a different typeface (often italic), type style or size, or indentation.^[1]

When should you use a block quote instead of including the quote within the regular body text? Commonly, quotations over 4-5 lines should be blocked. However, the requirements for the length of block quotations vary depending on the guide you use. For example, the Chicago Manual of Style recommends using a block quotation when the quotation is longer than 8 lines or 100 words in a typical manuscript.^[2]